Employment Vs Freelance: Which way to financial freedom?

After graduation, most university graduates are usually set to find their first full-time jobs, while others will choose a hybrid arrangement for working, especially freelance.

Faith Gachie decided to start work on a full-time job as an engineer at a water company.

“Full-time work allows me to have a steady flow of income and I don’t have to worry about not having enough money. While the hours might be long on some days, sometimes working overtime and during the weekends, I believe it is a give-and-take situation,” says Ms. Gachie.

The 23-year-old notes that getting a full-time job in the industry will get her started on getting the foundation and learning about the industry, thus having an early start to building her savings.

“Every individual is unique, and their career aspirations or the types of experiences that they seek will differ. I know that engineering is something I have always wanted to do,” adds Ms. Gachie.

On the other hand, freelancing seems to be a popular option among young adults these days, too. With flexible working arrangements on the rise, many may also enjoy the space to explore their creativity and time, which is one of the biggest benefits of freelancing and taking on gigs.

“Taking on freelance has given me the flexibility of time to do more leisure activities. I choose to be my own boss, and it is a great opportunity to hone my skills and discover a new passion that can be diversified into an alternative income,” says Moses Irungu.

Irungu notes that freelance allowed him to explore and find something he enjoys doing by taking risks and getting out of his comfort zone; though full-time employment provides safety in matters of finance, he says that freelance allows him to churn out quality work to ensure the customers come back.

“With freelance you have to be more disciplined in saving up in case of a bad day, though it’s important to ensure you treat every client as important because they might put in a good word for you to get the next job,” he says.

Eunice Victoria, a Career Coach notes that the biggest benefit of full-time employment is that it guarantees a stable flow of income every month.

This means that young adults would have the capacity to save more and plan towards long-term wealth accumulation from an earlier age.

Other than the income, full-time employment also comes with health and other welfare benefits, such as NSSF contributions, that will serve well in the long run.

“From a strictly financial stability point of view, full-time employment will be able to provide more stability than freelance that may come and go, which lead to an inconsistent income and irregular working schedule,” she advises.

Yet the harsh reality is that freelancing isn’t all a bed of roses. Freelance jobs might offer more flexibility in schedules, but the opportunities for building oneself up career-wise may be limited.

Victoria notes that whether full-time employment or freelancing, there is no right answer. Given that there are pros and cons to each option; it is entirely a personal choice.

However, whichever option you pursue, it is always good to start building a good capital base that you can fall back on if needed, or use to invest for additional income.